Film reviews by nationality

Thursday, June 3, 2010

As always, those who will have a chance to attend the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal can enjoy the Insider Series, a segment mainly devoted to screenings of films and upcoming TV series' pilot. For this year, the Insider Series' have a preview of an upcoming Canadian comedy series and two performances on stage in store.

The Drunk and on Drugs Happy Funtime Hour

First of all, fans of Trailer Park Boys will be able to meet the show's stars and creators themselves: Mike Smith, John Paul Tremblay, Robb Wells and director Ron Murphy. They will present clips of their new TV series called The Drunk and on Drugs Happy Funtime Hour and a Q&A session will be held.

This show from Showcase, a Canadian cable network, takes place in a fictitious town of Port Cockerton. It follows Trailer Park Boys' three stars (Mike Smith, John Paul Tremblay and Robb Wells) as they try to shoot a sketch variety show. However, the people who are hired for that variety show stay assume the personality of their characters after they've consumed a drug.

The screening will be held on Thursday, July 15 at 7:00 PM at the Cinquième Salle of the Place des Arts.

Kenny vs. Spenny

You've probably seen the reality/comedy series on Showcase. It follows Kenny Hotz and Spencer Rice, two "frenemies". In each show, they battle each other in ridiculous competitions. Kenny, the wise-cracking ruthless schemer, and Spenny, who naively takes the high-road to glory — have managed to find all-new cruel and childish ways to outwit each other through idiotic challenges, often involving innocent bystanders, social outcasts, friends, and relatives who grudgingly participate. Come see the boys, live on stage and up to their unusual tricks, stopping at nothing to humiliate, sabotage and one-up each other in their never-ending quest for juvenile supremacy. You can see them on Wednesday, July 14 at 7:00 PM at the Cinquième Salle of the Place des Arts.

The Not Inappropriate Show

A special sketch comedy show with skits and bits suitable for a young audience (ages 8 and up). Naomi Odenkirk, producer of The Not Inappropriate Show (and wife of comedy's Bob Odenkirk), cherry-picked these sketches and songs from different sketch groups and comedy troupes. "Here’s the hook: none of the scenes in this show were written for kids; they were all created for adult comedy audiences—there are no little kid fairy tales here! These are great pieces that Bob and I loved, that happen to be 'not inappropriate' for a young audience." The show runs like a "best-of," and features performers from the legendary comedy troupe The Groundlings and the very hip Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. Featuring Bob Odenkirk, Kate Micucci and a cast of some of the best sketch performers from Los Angeles, including Stephanie Courtney, Andrew Friedman, Steve Little, Michael Naughton, Larry Dorf, Kent Sublette, Edi Patterson, plus special guests to be announced. See the show on Friday, July 16 at 7:00 PM, Saturday, July 17 at 2:00 PM at the Cinquième Salle of the Place des Arts.

As always, those who will have a chance to attend the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal can enjoy the Insider Series, a segment mainly devoted to screenings of films and upcoming TV series' pilot. For this year, the Insider Series' have a preview of an upcoming Canadian comedy series and two performances on stage in store.

The Drunk and on Drugs Happy Funtime Hour

First of all, fans of Trailer Park Boys will be able to meet the show's stars and creators themselves: Mike Smith, John Paul Tremblay, Robb Wells and director Ron Murphy. They will present clips of their new TV series called The Drunk and on Drugs Happy Funtime Hour and a Q&A session will be held.

This show from Showcase, a Canadian cable network, takes place in a fictitious town of Port Cockerton. It follows Trailer Park Boys' three stars (Mike Smith, John Paul Tremblay and Robb Wells) as they try to shoot a sketch variety show. However, the people who are hired for that variety show stay assume the personality of their characters after they've consumed a drug.

The screening will be held on Thursday, July 15 at 7:00 PM at the Cinquième Salle of the Place des Arts.

Kenny vs. Spenny

You've probably seen the reality/comedy series on Showcase. It follows Kenny Hotz and Spencer Rice, two "frenemies". In each show, they battle each other in ridiculous competitions. Kenny, the wise-cracking ruthless schemer, and Spenny, who naively takes the high-road to glory — have managed to find all-new cruel and childish ways to outwit each other through idiotic challenges, often involving innocent bystanders, social outcasts, friends, and relatives who grudgingly participate. Come see the boys, live on stage and up to their unusual tricks, stopping at nothing to humiliate, sabotage and one-up each other in their never-ending quest for juvenile supremacy. You can see them on Wednesday, July 14 at 7:00 PM at the Cinquième Salle of the Place des Arts.

The Not Inappropriate Show

A special sketch comedy show with skits and bits suitable for a young audience (ages 8 and up). Naomi Odenkirk, producer of The Not Inappropriate Show (and wife of comedy's Bob Odenkirk), cherry-picked these sketches and songs from different sketch groups and comedy troupes. "Here’s the hook: none of the scenes in this show were written for kids; they were all created for adult comedy audiences—there are no little kid fairy tales here! These are great pieces that Bob and I loved, that happen to be 'not inappropriate' for a young audience." The show runs like a "best-of," and features performers from the legendary comedy troupe The Groundlings and the very hip Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. Featuring Bob Odenkirk, Kate Micucci and a cast of some of the best sketch performers from Los Angeles, including Stephanie Courtney, Andrew Friedman, Steve Little, Michael Naughton, Larry Dorf, Kent Sublette, Edi Patterson, plus special guests to be announced. See the show on Friday, July 16 at 7:00 PM, Saturday, July 17 at 2:00 PM at the Cinquième Salle of the Place des Arts.